Split hook hoisting apparatus



Nov. 7, 1967 w. M. MARKS ET Al. 3,351,372

SPL IT HOOK HOISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 7, 1964 i ZE 43 m llI Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /50 O dd 0 O O O O o 0 O o O 2e 27 r P -9 WILL/AMM. MARKS INVENTORS ATTORNEYS I Nov. 7,1967 w. M. MARKS ET AL 3,351,372

SPLIT HOOK HOISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet2 E W/LL/AM M; MARKS JAMES E. ASHWORTH INVENTORS A T TORNE Y5 NOV. 7.,1967 w, MARKS ETAL 3,351,372

SPLIT HOOK HOISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 7, 1964 TUTTI 3Sheets-Sheet 5 m WILLIAM M; MARKS JAMES E. ASA/WORTH INVENTORS BY 23 Iand. 7 7 o 7 fl ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,351,372 SlPLlT HOOKHOISTING APPARATUS William M. Marks and James E. Ashworth, Beaumont,

Tern, assignors to Dresser industries, line, a corporation of DelawareContinuation of application Ser. No. 402,120, Oct. 7,

1964. This application May 2, 1966, Ser. No. 547,129 8 Claims. (Cl.294-81) This application is a continuation of co-pending applicationSer. No. 402,120, filed Oct. 7, 1964, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling pipe in well operationssuch as drilling, completion, workover and servicing of wells. It isparticularly directed to improvements in apparatus for raising andlowering pipe in such operations. While the present invention is adaptedto handling strings of pipe and the like used in connection with manyoperations related to the making and servicing of holes, the inventionwill be described and illustrated in connection with handling drill pipeduring drilling operations, it being understood that operations inhandling other types of pipe are the same even though the size andcharacter of the pipe and couplings therefor may be different.

In present drilling practice, a drill string consists of a plurality ofsections or joints of drill pipe, having a length usually in the rangeof about to 40 feet convenient for its manufacture and transportation aswell as for its use in the drilling operation. Each joint of drill pipehas threaded connections at each end so that the joints can be screwedtogether. These threaded parts are formed as standard API tool joints.The drill string is run into and out of the bore hole in multiple jointstands, each stand consisting of a number, usually two to four, ofjoints convenient for manipulation within the height of the derrick of adrilling rig.

When running the drill string into a bore hole, the drill string islowered by a pipe elevator until the top of the drill string is near adrilling floor of the drilling rig. The pipe usually is then gripped byslips that wedge within a slip bowl of a master bushing, which in turnseats within a rotating part of a turntable in the rig. Dies havingsharp teeth which are hardened so that pressure from wedging actioncauses them to bite into the pipe and insure a tight grip are includedin the slips.

After the slips are engaged, the elevator is released so that it can belifted in the derrick for connection with the next stand of drill pipeto be attached to the drill string and to support the stand while thelower end thereof is connected to the drill string in the bore holes.After the connection is made, the slips are released and the drillingstring is again lowered in the bore hole until the added section is inposition to be gripped by the slips to permit removal of the elevatorfor use in connecting another stand of drill pipe. These operations arecontinued until a sufficient number of stands have been added that a bitcarried by a lowest stand makes contact with the bottom of the bore holeto continue with the drilling operation.

When drilling or other pipe rotating operation is to be resumed, thepipe elevator and usually bails suspending the elevator from thetraveling block, are removed and a hook suitable for suspending a mudswivel having a bail is attached to the traveling block. A mud swivelconnected to a kelly joint adapted to be driven by a turntable issuspended from the hook and connected to the upper end of the drillstring. A suitable mud or well fluid is then pumped from drilling mudvats via stand pipe and hose connections to the mud swivel down throughthe kelly and drill string and the drill string is rotated by theturntable until the bit penetrates to a depth great enough that anadditional joint of pipe is required. When this occurs the drill stringis supported in slips, the kelly and mud swivel are disconnected, thehook is detached from the traveling block and bails for a pipe elevatorare connected to the traveling block, the elevator is attached to thebails and the pipe is picked up and added to the drill string asdescribed in going into the hole.

When it becomes necessary to pull the drill string from the bore hole,the mud swivel and kelly are disconnected from the traveling block,bails and a pipe elevator carried thereby are connected to the block inposition to hoist the pipe and the elevator is moved into position toconnect with the upper end of the drill string. The drill string is thenraised in the derrick until the next lower stand of pipe is in positionto be engaged by the slips to support the drill string while the firststand is uncoupled therefrom and carried by the elevator into rackingposition within the derrick. The elevator is then released and againlowered in the derrick to engage with the upper end of the followingstand, to again raise the drilling string for support by the slips andpermit uncoupling by the next stand of drill pipe. These operations arerepeated until all of the drill pipe has been removed from the bore holeand the stands of pipe are racked Within the derrick.

It is obvious that during the drilling and operation of a well it willbecome necessary to attach and detach a hook for supporting the bail ofthe mud swivel and bails for supporting a pipe elevator many times.These objects are very heavy. A hook for example, weighs several hundredpounds and bails for a pipe elevator are comparable in weight. A greatdeal of time and labor is thus consumed in alternately attaching anddetaching a hook and bails.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus forhandling pipe in which the necessity for removing elevator bails orlocking them out of line while the mud swivel is carried on thetraveling block of a hoisting apparatus, is eliminated.

Another object is to provide such improved apparatus which reduces thetime and labor required in shifting the hoisting apparatus from elevatorto mud swivel.

Another object is to provide such apparatus having a single split hookassembly serving both as elevator bails and as hook for the mud swivelbail.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which is of simpleconstruction, easy to operate and lower in cost than apparatus havingboth hook and elevator bails of similar strength.

Another object is to decrease the time required in changing fromdrilling operations to pipe running operations.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will beapparent to one skilled in the art upon a consideration of the writtenspecification, the attached claims and the annexed drawings.

These objects are attained in the present invention by providing a splithook assembly carried by a traveling block of a hoisting mechanism whichperforms the functions both of bails for supporting a pipe elevator anda hook for supporting the bails of mud swivels. The split hook assemblyincludes a pair of upper links which may be either of solid link orspring link type, and means for attaching the upper links to thetraveling block providing free movement of the lower ends of the linkstoward and away from each other.

A pair of opposed hook members are provided with each member pivotedadjacent an upper end thereof to a lower part of a corresponding one ofsaid links so that the hook members are movable toward] and away fromeach other.

Since the upper links are themselves mounted for swinging movement ontraveling block and the hooks are piva oted at the upper end to thelower end of the link members, the hook members may be brought intolateral contact with each other or swung widely apart so that there issufiicient room for free movement of pipe between the hook members andremain substantially vertical during lateral movement.

The hook members have complementary surfaces fitting inside the topmostpart of a mud swivel bail when the hook members are in lateral contact,and in this position therefore can perform the functions usuallyperformed by a separate mud swivel hook. The pipe elevators used in thiscombination have lateral lifting ears diametrically opposite each other.

The lower surface of each of these ears is curved to fit upon one of thecomplementary bail engaging surfaces of a corresponding hook member.Each of the hook mem bers are provided with closing latches inconventional manner so that the latch has to be open before the membercan be disconnected from the elevator or bail.

It will thus be seen that the operation in shifting from support of mudswivel for pipe rotating operations to support of a pipe elevator forrunning operations is greatly facilitated. To disconnect a pipe elevatorlatches of the hook member need only be opened by the membersdisconnected from the lifting ears of the pipe elevator. When the twohook members have been so disconnected they are merely pushed togetherto lateral contact and are immediately ready to hook on the bail of amud swivel.

It is preferred that one of the hook members have associated with it apivoted latch member in position to detachably engage a latch engagingmember associated with the other hook member so that when the hookmembers are in lateral contact they may be latched in this position withno danger of separation during the hoisting operation. It is alsopreferred that the traveling block used with the split hook assembly ofthe present invention be side opening, that is, constructed with thegroups of sheaves laterally spaced from each other at a distance toprovide free movement of pipe laterally into and out of the block, andthat the means for attaching the split hook assembly to the travelingblock include a swivel having a side opening therein carried upon thelower end of the traveling block.

The invention may be best understood by consideration of the attacheddrawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout,

In the drawings FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically one preferred typeof split hook assembly of the present invention in elevation, partiallybroken away and shown attached to a pipe elevator.

FIG. 2 illustrates the same type of split hook assembly suspended from atraveling block of different construction and supporting a bail of a mudswivel.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of a split hook assemblyillustrating its attachment to a pipe elevator in FIG. 3 and to a bailof a mud swivel in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred construction of an upper link of a splithook assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 for rapid handling of heavy weights.

FIG. 7 illustrates diagrammtically a partially broken away elevation ofa derrick or mast of a drill rig showing pipes being raised or loweredby the use of the split hook assembly of the present invention.

The split hook assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a pair ofupper links designated generally as 10 and 11 suspended from a traveling.block designated generally as 12. The traveling block of FIG. 1includes a series of sheaves 13 and another series of sheaves 14laterally spaced therefrom at a distance to allow free lateral insertionof pipe between the sets of sheaves. The body of the traveling block 12extends downward and supports links 10 and 11 on pins 15 and 16. Theupper links 10 and 1-1 are constructed in two parts, namely, uppermembers 17 and 18 and lower members 19 and 20. The upper members 17 and18 have openings 21 and 22 therein and the pins 15 and 16 are insertedthrough the openings. The arrangement provides free swinging movementfor the upper links 10 and 11 toward and away from each other.

The lower parts 19 and 20 of each of the upper links includes a cylinder23 in which a resilient member, illustrated as spring 24, is disposedaround upper member 17 so that load is transmitted from upper member 17through piston head 25 and spring 24 to cylinder 23.

The assembly includes a pair of opposed hook members 26 and 27 shown inside view of FIG. 5. The hook members are substantially rnirror imagesof each other, that is, they bear the same general relationship to eachother that a right hand glove resembles a left hand one, and the hookmembers have opposed substantially plane faces 28 facing each other.

Each of the hook members is pivoted at 29 and 30 to a corresponding oneof said upper links so that the hook members may have substantiallyvertical position both when spread apart as shown in FIG. 1, or whenmoved into lateral contact with each other as shown in FIG. 2. It ispreferred that each of the hook members have a pair of upper extendingcars 31, shown only in FIG. 5, through which one of the pivots, such as30 extends. Each of the hook members also have a pivoted closure member32 attached thereto so that the hook cannot be disengaged when anyweight is on elevator 34 or mud swivel bail 35. It is also preferredthat each of the closure elements 32 are provided with a latch member 36arranged in conventional manner so that the closure member cannot beopened until the latch member 36 is tripped by an operator.

It is preferred that one of the hook members have a pin 37 extendingfrom a side thereof toward the other of the pair of hook members, whichcontains a recess 38 for receiving the pin when the hook members areplaced in side by side contact as shown in FIG. 2. It is also preferredthat one of the hook members have associated with it, as for example onpivot 30, a latch 39 adapted to engage a latch receiving member which ispreferably the pivot shaft 29 associated with the opposite hook member.The hook members have complementary bail engaging surfaces 41 adapted tofit a topmost lower surface 42 of mud swivel bail 35 so that the liftingsurface of each book member engages one half of the curved topmost lowersurface of the bail.

Pipe elevator 34 has a pair of lifting ears 42 disposed diametricallyopposite each other and each of these ears has a lower surface 43adapted to fit a bail engaging surface 41 of a corresponding hookmember. The lifting ears 42 also are provided with retaining members 44so that the elevator may not be accidentally disengaged from the hookmembers when used therewith.

FIG. 2 illustrates the fact that this split hook assembly may be usedwith any type of traveling block since the block 45 shown thereinincludes a single group of sheaves 47 and the upper links 10 and 11 aresuspended from hook members 48 suspended from the frame 49 of thetraveling block by a swiveled connection 50.

A modification of the upper link members which is preferred when veryheavy weights are rapidly handled is illustrated in FIG. 6. Thismodification is very similar to the members described under FIGS. 1 and2 except that a ring 52 is provided for attaching to pins correspondingto 15 and 16 of FIG. 1 or the hook assembly 48 of FIG. 2 and that twocylinders 23a containing springs of 24a are provided. Also the upper andlower parts of the links are reversed from the position occupied by inFIGS. 1 and 2 in that the upper part of the link comprises the ring 52and a rod 53 attached to a cross bar 54 movable vertically withinhousing 55 used to support the spring 24a. Members 56 attached to thebody of the traveling block support the shaft 30 which serves to pivot ahook member 26 or 27 and to support the latch member 39. Latch member 39in this modification as well as that described for FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 isadapted to engage the shaft 29 serving as pivot for hook member 26.

The modification of the split hook assembly shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4has upper link members a and 11a constructed as solid pieces. Theseupper members are curved at 1% and 11b adjacent their mid points so thatthey may be well out of the way of pipe handled by elevator 343a whenthe hook assembly is spread apart for engaging lifting ears of a pipeelevator. The split traveling block 124: shown in these figures isequipped with a swivel lower section 53 having lateral-1y extending ears60 upon which the upper links Tea and 11a are carried. The elevator 34ais similar in construction to the elevator 34 shown in PEG. 1 in that itis side opening. This arrangement of traveling block including theswivel section 5% having a side opening 59 therein of suflicient widthto freely admit a section of pipe being handled is particularlyefficient in many operations where it is desired to place the elevatorupon a pipe in a position where the pipe extends well above thetraveling block. FIG. 4 illustrates the same type of traveling block,upper links and hook members as shown in FIG. 3 but in position tosupport a bail 35 of a mud swivel.

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the installation of the apparatus ofthe present invention in a derrick of a drilling ring. The elevator 34ais shown closed around a stand of pipe 61 being raised or lowered into awell. The elevator 34a is supported by the hook assembly comprisingupper links 10 and 11 and lower hook members 26 and 27, all supported bya travelling block 12 of a hoisting apparatus including lines 62 runningover 'a crown block assembly 63. The mud swivel 64 having bail 35 isshown disconnected and in the usual position occupied by it during piperunning operations.

The mud swivel 64 and kelly joint 65 are normally placed at one side ofthe drilling floor 66 of trig of a derrick 67 while the pipe runningoperations are conducted. When operations involving rotation of thestring of pipe are to be resumed, the elevator is, of course,disconnected from the upper end of the pipe and from the split hookassembly, and the hook members are moved into the position in lateralcontact with each other illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, and the travelingblock and hook member assembly carried by the block is swung to one sideto pick up the bail 35 of mud swivel 64. The lower end of the kellyjoint is then connected to the upper end of the drill string 61 and islowered into position to be turned by operation of the turntable 68.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth,together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the appa r-atus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombin-ations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a hoisting mechanism including a traveling block for handling pipein well operations, the improvement which comprises; means adapted foralternately detecht5 ably supporting a mud swivel bail and a pipeelevator from the traveling block, said means including a pair ofopposed members each having a lower portion and an upper portionincluding means for connecting the upper portion of each member to saidtraveling block for free swinging movement of the portions of saidmembers below said connecting means toward and away from each other inone plane, each of said lower portions providing a hook in the form ofan incomplete loop extending transversely of said plane anddiscontinuous along one side adapted when the members are swung towardeach other, for the hook of each member to move laterally of said planeand through said discontinuous portion to engage a mud swivel bail andwhen swung apart, for the hook of each member to move laterally of saidplane and through said discontinuous portion to engage opposite sides ofa pipe elevator.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 in which each of said lower portions ispivoted adjacent an upper end to a lower part of a corresponding one ofsaid upper portions.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the hooks are substantially mirrorimages of each other in configuration and have substantially fiat sidesfacing each other.

43. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a latch is associated with one ofsaid opposed members in position to releasably engage the other opposedmember when said opposed members are swung together.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of each of saidopposed members includes a cylinder having a resilient member thereinand a lower member sup ported on said resilient member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the resilient members are coilsprings disposed to be compressed by downward movement of the lowermember.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the traveling block has two sheaveassemblies laterally spaced from each other at a distance to providefree lateral movement of pipe into the block, and the opposed membersare supported upon a swivel having a matching side opening therein.

8. In an apparatus for handling pipe in well operations wherein there isprovided a hoisting mechanism including a traveling block, a pipeelevator, a mud swivel, a bail on the mud swivel, that improvement whichcomprises a split hook assembly carried by the traveling block foralternately detachably supporting the mud swivel bail and pipe elevator,said assembly including a pair of opposed upper links, means attachingthe upper links to the traveling block providing free movement of thelower ends of the links toward and away from each other; a pair ofopposed hook members, each pivoted adjacent an upper end to a lower partof a corresponding one of said links and movable toward and away fromeach other, said hook members having a complimentary bail engagingsurfaces adapted to fit the bail; and opposed lateral lifting ears onthe pipe elevator, each of said lifting ears having a lower surfaceadapted to fit a bail engaging surface of a corresponding hook member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 506,585 10/ 1893 Downing 2941,397,072 11/1921 Black 294-90 1,860,121 5/1932 Trout 292-82 3,061,35610/1962 Grundmann 29490 3,193,116 7/1965 Kenneday 294-91 X GERALD M.FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A HOISTING MECHANISM INCLUDING A TRAVELING BLOCK FOR HANDLING PIPEIN WELL OPERATIONS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES; MEANS ADAPTED FORALTERNATELY DETACHABLY SUPPORTING A MUD, SWIVEL BAIL AND A PIPE ELEVATORFROM THE TRAVELING BLOCK, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED MEMBERSEACH HAVING A LOWER PORTION AND AN UPPER PORTION INCLUDING MEANS FORCONNECTING THE UPPER PORTION OF EACH MEMBER TO SAID TRAVELING BLOCK FORFREE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE PORTIONS OF SAID MEMBERS BELOW SAIDCONNECTING MEANS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN ONE PLANE, EACH OFSAID LOWER PORTIONS PROVIDING A HOOK IN THE FORM OF AN INCOMPLETE LOOPEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PLANE AND DISCONTINUOUS ALONG ONE SIDEADAPTED WHEN THE MEMBERS ARE SWUNG TOWARRD EACH OTHER, FOR THE HOOK OFEACH MEMBER TO MOVE LATERALLY OF SAID PLANE AND THROUGH SAIDDISCONTINUOUS PORTION TO ENGAGE A MUD SWIVEL BAIL AND WHEN SWUNG APART,FOR THE HOOK OF EACH MEMBER TO MOVE LATERALLY OF SAID PLANE AND THROUGHSAID DISCONTINUOUS PORTION TO ENGAGE OPPOSITE SIDES OF A PIPE ELEVATOR.